MANILA, Philippines — House Bill 1799, authored by Rep.Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Party-list, revives earlier initiatives to legalize divorce in the country. While the bill has its merits, many of which have been debated over the years, its timing may be questionable as it could take time that would be spent on the Reproductive Health bill.
This could then dilute the importance of the latter, another contentious legislation. Rep. Ilagan is reported to have been inspired by the example of Malta, a small island, predominantly Catholic and conservative, but which had the courage to vote “Yes” to a divorce law at its recent referendum. Should the bill be ratified in the parliament, it would mean that the Philippines would be the only country (together with the Vatican City) to forbid divorce.
But the proponents could perhaps shelve the divorce bill for the nonce while they concentrate on the RH bill which undoubtedly ranks higher in our hierarchy of priority of survival concerns.
While the divorce bill, in the opinion of some pundits, primarily affect the middle class (the rich upper class can always opt for annulment or go for a “quickie” divorce abroad while the poor do not care much about legalizing their union), the RH bill affects everyone whose survival depends on balanced population growth rate.
Many sectors have spoken on the necessity for passing it into law. It is time now to consolidate the arguments and find a way to reconcile the differences between the anti-RH movement, led by the CBCP and some Catholic lay leaders, and the majority who believe that we can never put an end to hunger and poverty unless we take this courageous step of radically reducing the number of children born every year.
These two bills have some bearing on the nature of our secular democracy or the separation of Church and State. Secularism is the belief that government or other entities should exist separately from religion. It is the right to be free from religious rule or right to freedom from government imposition from the people.
But what defines our type of secularism is that the State is mandated to respect the freedom of all religions, and to recognize religion as a moral compass that is necessary in helping the people attain their full potential in a democracy
I am saddened to hear about the resignation of a man who represents the embodiment of a true public servant – competent, honest, consistent in belief and action, trustworthy, and accountable. I first met former Sec. Ping de Jesus in 1976 when I was a fellow at the Development Academy of the Philippines.
Ping who was then Senior Vice President. was responsible in overseeing the implementation of the CESO, the career executive system, and HRD programs for various government agencies. I followed his subsequent career path — during President Cory’s administration, first as Education undersecretary, Cabinet secretary, and Public Works secretary, and later in corporate settings as president of Meralco, among others.
Always modest and unassuming, there has not been a single stint of scandal associated with him.
My deepest condolences to the family of another colleague – former Constitutional Commissioner Regalado E. Maambong, who quietly passed away last week. Dodong was Comelec Commissioner and Justice of the Court of Appeals, and before that a practicing lawyer.
He, together with Commissioners Blas Ople, Teodulo Natividad, and Rustico Reyes, were the four appointed from the Marcos bureaucracy by President Cory. Until recently, he was professorial lecturer at the Judicial Academy, where among others, he provided technical assistance to members of our institute staff on some projects related to access to justice and judicial reforms.
One of his legacies for which he is remembered with much appreciation is his skillful editing of the 1987 Constitution.
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/321734/divorce-billSource :
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